Shawnee Municipal Pool donations still needed

Friday

Mar 14, 2014 at 8:00 AM

The Shawnee Municipal Pool Committee has been approved to go out for bid for the pool, which is due to open in the summer of 2015, said committee member John Ayers. However, the committee is still in need of donations to reach the Avedis challenge grant.

By Jessica Walkerjessica.walker@news-star.com

The Shawnee Municipal Pool Committee has been approved to go out for bid for the pool, which is due to open in the summer of 2015, said committee member John Ayers. However, the committee is still in need of donations to reach the Avedis challenge grant.

“We lack about $60,000 of reaching that Avedis match of $616,600,” Ayers said.

City commissioners approved a consent agenda item at the last commission meeting to authorize staff to solicit bids for the remodeling and construction of the Shawnee Municipal Pool.

Director of Operations James Bryce said the renderings of the pool were with the State Department of Health for a while being evaluated but staff has received those.

“There were a few minor final requirements,” Bryce said. “They’re in the process of making those changes now.”

Bryce said because the changes were minor, they decided to go ahead and go out for bids.

“We’re ready,” he said.

Ayers said while they are around $60,000 off from reaching the Avedis match, an anonymous donor is willing to donate $40,000 so Ayers is asking the community to step forward to help with raising the remaining $20,000.

“We just like to encourage people between now and say, the latter part of April if they would still like to contribute to the pool to feel free to do so,” he said. “We’ve had donors the smallest from $20 all the way up to $100,000.”

Bryce said donations would be taken even after reaching that match.

“Donations to the pool can continue as long as people want to give,” he said.

Donations to the pool are tax deductible and can be made to the Shawnee Community Foundation, c/o Municipal Pool. Checks can be mailed to 1421 E. 45th Street, Shawnee, OK 74804. For any questions regarding donating, please call 481-0562.